Handrail structure for passenger conveyors



Feb. 23, 1965 YUTAKA TAKENAGA ETAL 3,170,557

NDRA'IL STRUCTURE FOR PASSENGER CQNVEYORS Filed Dec. 27, 1961 RWN Y WON A ks 0w? unl-B M WITNESSES United States Patent Ofitice 3,179,557 Patented Feb. 23, 1965 3,17 0,557 HANDRAH. STRUCTURE FOR PASSENGER CGNVEYORS Yutalra Tairenaga, Moriyama-shi, Aichi-ken, and Mitoshi Malsirnoto, Higashi-Kasugai-gun, Aichidren, Japan,

assignors to Mitsubishi Denial Kabushiini Kaisha,

Tokyo, Japan, a company of Japan Filed Dec. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 162,537 Claims priority, appligatiorg Japan, Jan. 18, M61,

13 Claims. (cl. 198-46) This invention relates to passenger conveyors of the moving belt type, and it has particular relation to such conveyors having moving handrails operating in synchronism with the conveyor belt.

Moving belt passenger conveyors may take the form to position the return run of the handrail out of sight beneath the balustrade.

In accordance with the invention, improved guide mechanism is provided for the handrails of passenger conveyors having substantially transparent balustrades. The return run of each handrail lies entirely below its associated balustrade and is supported by a guide unit. Conveniently, the guide unit comprises a pair of wheels. The return run is trained around the wheels to form an auxiliary loop which is substantially closed on itself. The handrail is adapted to present the same side thereof to the Wheels and the balustrade guide means in a manner such that substantially all bending of the handrail throughout its path of travel is in the same direction.

In order to tension the handrail, one of the wheels is biased so that the auxiliary loop is elongated or expanded in the event of handrail stretch. The other wheel is driven by motive means to move the handrail in synchronism with the conveyor belt. Preferably, the same motor is employed to drive the belt and the handrail.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to'provide an improved handrail structure for passenger conveyors.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved handrail structure for a passenger conveyor having a substantially transparent balustrade, wherein the handrailis bent substantially in one direction throughout its path of travel.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved guide unit for the return run of a handrail of a passenger conveyor having a, substantially transparent balustrade.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved tensioning and drive unit for a handrail of a passenger conveyor having a substantially transparent balustrade.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a passenger conveyor having a substantially transparent balustrade with improved handrail guide, drive and tensioning mechanism and in which the same side of the handrail engages the guide mechanism substantially throughout the path of travel of the handrail.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

. FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation with parts broken away and parts shown schematically of a moving stairway embodying the invention; and

FlG. 2 is an enlarged sectional View taken along the lines 11-41 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing, FIG. 1 shows a plurality of steps 1, which arecoup-led to a suitable chain 3 for movement about spaced lower and upper sprockets 5 and 7 between a lower landing h and an upper landing ill. The sprockets 5 and 7 are secured respectively to shafts 5a and 7a, which are mounted for rotation about their axes. In conventional practice, a suitable frame or truss 13 is provided for supporting the bearings of the shafts 5a and 7a, together with channels for guiding the steps 1 in a desired path. Since such channels and trusses are well known in the art, it appears unnecessary to illustrate or describe them further. For driving the steps l, the sprocket 7 may have coupled thereto through suitable gearing and a belt 15 the armature of an electric motor 17.

To assist passengers traveling on the moving stairway, a continuous or endless handrail 19 is provided. A similar handrail may be provided on the opposite side of the stairway.

As is shown in FIG. 2, the handrail 19 has a U-shaped cross-section comprising arcuate legs 1% and 19b, which are connected by a relatively flat band 190. As is illustrated, the ends of the legs preferably are turned in wardly toprovide a =C-shaped cross-section for the handrail. The handrail has an endless exterior surface 19d, which is presented to passengers ascending or descending the stairway. The handrail has an endless interior surface 1%, which is a guide surface.

The upper run 1% of the handrail is guided around a light-transmissive or substantially transparent balustrade 21 by means of a conventional T-shaped stationary guide member 2 3 for presentation to passengers of the stairway. The guide member may be secured to the balustrade by any suitable means. The guide member 23 is located between the legs 19a and 19b to engage the guide surface we and has a lower portion 23b and an upper portion 231! 1 respectively extending substantially around the lower and upper portions 21b and Zlzzof the balustrade.

Inasmuch as the balustrade 19 is substantially transparent, it is desirable to position the return run 19r of the handrail so that it is not visible through the balustrade. To

this end, the return run is disposed entirely beneath the the truss 13.

As is shown in FIG. 1, the handrail is'trained around the guide wheels 27 and 29 in a manner such that the return run 19r includes an auxiliaryloop formed by a first upper section 31 extending between lower rollers 25 and the guide wheel 29, an intermediate lower section 33 extending between the guide Wheels 29 and 27 and a second upper section 35 extending between the guide wheel 27 and the upper rollers 26.

In order to understand the problems presented in guiding handrails, reference again may be made to FIG. 2. lit will be recalled that the exterior surface 19d of the handrail is presented to stairway passengers. For preventing the formation of cracks, pits or scuffed areas in this surface, it is desirable that the surface be clear of guide members as much as practicable throughout its lower guide rollers 25 and the wheel 29 is twisted about its path of travel through a substantial angle to present the guide surface we to the wheels 27 and 29.

similar manner, the upper return run section 35 between lna the wheel 27 and the upper guide rollers 26 is twisted through a substantial angle about its path of travel for the purpose of presenting the same guide surface 1% to the T-shaped stationary balustrade guide member 23. Consequently, the exterior surface 19d of the handrail is completely clear of all guide elements throughout its path of travel except that relatively short portion having a substantially large radius of curvature which engages. the

upper guide rollers 26. The twisting of the handrail return run sections 31 and 35 may be in opposite directions relative to each other, as is illustrated in FIG. 1, or in the same direction. it will be observed that the guide wheel 2'7 is tilted from the vertical sufficiently to prevent interference between the sections 311 and 35.

For providing a compact structure and for insuring that the handrail is of minimum overall length, the guide wheels 27 and 29 are of equal diameter and the centers of the guide wheels preferably are located along a line which is substantially parallel to the inclined portion of the upper run 1% of the handrail and which is located so that the return run upper sections 31 and 35' lie in the same plane and are substantially parallel to the inclined portion of the upper run. Furthermore, the return run guide unit is positioned and the wheelsi2'7 and 29 thereof are spaced from each other and from the guide rollers 25 and 26 so that each of the return run sections El and 35 is relatively long. With such construction, the resulting stresses due to the aforesaid twisting are small, and minimum wear of the handrail as it travels over the rollers 25 and 26 and the wheels 27 and'29 is assured.

In order that the handrail may have the necessary fiexiblility, it may be fabricated of a suitable elastomer such as rubber embedded with fabric and/r cords to control its stretch. The processes for reinforcement and vulcan ization of rubber to produce handrails are Well known in i the art. To compensate for such stretch as may occur during operation of the stairway, however, and to provide proper tension in the handrail, one of the guide wheels, for example, the lower guide wheel 27, may be biased to act as a tensioning device.

For this purpose, the wheel 27 is secured to a shaft 27a, each end of which passes through and is freely movable within the confines of a slot 37 in a supporting member (not shown) secured to the truss 13. Secured to the shaft 27a is one end of a rod 39, which is inserted through an aperture in a plate 4-1 secured to the trusslli and thence through a helical compressionspring 43 and a washer ds. The end of the rod 39 adjacent the washer 45 is threaded to receive anut 47. Coni sequenrtly, the nut 47 may be rotated manually toadjust the compression of the spring 43, thus biasing the wheel 27 against the handrail guide surface 192 and urging such guide surface against the wheel 29 to provide the desired handrail tensioning force.

It will be observed that in the event of occurrence of the joining the centers of the guide wheels 27 and 29 in order that the handrail tensioning force may act along'the same line. Such positioning assures that adjustment of the tensioning wheel 27 will not result in a change in the angle of inclination of each of the sections 31, 33 and 35 of the handrail return run 19;.

The stairway step operating motor 17 also may be employed for drivingthe handrail 19. To this 'end, the shaft 7a of the sprocket 7 carries a pulley fihwhile a pulley 53 is secured to the shaft 290. of the upper guide wheel 29. Intermediate these two pulleys is a'pair of gears 55 and 56 having shafts 55a and 56a, whose bearvcings are supported by the truss 13. The shaft 55a carries a pulley 57, while the shaft 56a carries a pulley 53. A

drive belt 59 passesaround the sprocket pulley Sland the gear pulley 57, while a similar belt 61 passes around the gear pulley 58 and the guide wheel pulley 53. It will be apparent that suitable propoutioning of the respective diameters of the pulleys 51, 53, 57 and 58 and the gears 55 and 56 will result in movement of the upper run 19a 7 handrail disposed for movement through a predetermined path of travel, said handrail having a first continuous surface for reception of the hands of stairway passengers and a second continuous surface engaging said guide means, said handrail having an upper runsupported by said guide means and a lower return run disposed entirely beneath said balustrade, said lowerrun being supported substantially by a guide unit disposed substantially mid way between said upper and lower portions of said guide means, said guide unit comprising an upper and a lower guide element spaced in the direction of movement of said upper run, said lower run having a first section extending between the upper portion of said guide means and said lower'guide element, a second section extending between said lower and upper guide elements and a third section extending between said upper guide element and the lower'portion of said guide means, said lower run being disposed for engagement of each of said guide elements by only said handrail second surface. l a

2. A moving stairway as-claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower and upper guide elements are spaced substantially from said lower and upper guide means portions, respectively. V

3. In a moving stairway, a lower landing and anupper landing, a balustrade extending between said landings and having handrail guide means'including a lower portion adjacent said lower landing and an upper portion adjacent said upper landing, a continuous flexible handrail dis posed for movement through a predetermined path of travel, said handrail having a first continuous surface for reception of the hands of stairway passengers and a second continuous surface engaging said guidemeans, said handrail having an upper run supported by 'said guide means anda lower return run disposed, entirely beneath said balustrade, said lower run being supported sun stantially by a guide unit comprising an upper and a lower guide. element spaced in the direction of movement of saidupper run, said lower run having a first upper section extending between the lower portion of said guide means and said upper guide element, a lower section extending between said upper and lower guide elements and a second upper section extending between said lower guide element and the upper portion of said guide i means, said lower run being twisted for engagement of each of said guide elements by only said handrail second surface.

4. A moving stairway as clamed in claim 3 wherein said twisting comprises the displacement of said lower run first upper section about the path of travel of the handrail through an angle sufficient to bring said second surface into engagement with said upper and lower guide elements and the displacement of said lower run second upper section about the path of travel of the handrail through an angle sufficient to bring said second surface into engagement with said guide means.

5. A moving stairway as claimed in claim 4, wherein one of said guideelements comprises a tensioning member for said handrail.

6. In a conveyor for transporting passengers between a first landing and a second landing, a light-transmissive balustrade extending between said landings and having handrail guide means including a first portion adjacent said first landing, a second portion adjacent said second landing and a third portion extending between said first and second portions, a continuous flexible handrail disposed for movement through a predetermined path of travel, said handrail having a first continuous surface for reception of the hands of conveyor passengers and a second continuous surface engaging said guide means, said handrail having an upper run supported by said guide means and a lower return run disposed entirely beneath said balustrade, said lower run being supported by a guide unit comprising a pair of guide elements spaced in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of extension of said guide means third portion between said first and second portions, said lower run having a first section extending between said guide means first portion and a first one of said guide elements which is furthest from such portion, a second section extending between said guide elements and a third section extending between the second one of said guide elements and said guide means second portion, said lower run first and third sections substantially lying in a plane parallel to the direction of extension of said guide means third portion between said first and second portions, said lower run being disposed for engagement of each of said guide elements by only said handrail second surface, one of said guide elements comprising a tensioning member for said handrail.

7. In a conveyor for transporting passengers between a first landing and a second landing, a light-transmissive balustrade extending between said landings and having handrail guide means including a first portion adjacent said first landing, -a second portion adjacent said second landing and a third portion extending between said first and second portions, a continuous flexible handrail disposed for movement through a predetermined path of travel, said handrail having a first continuous surface for reception of the hands of conveyor passengers and a second continuous surface engaging said guide means, said handrail having an upper run supported by said guide means and a lower return run disposed entirely beneath said balustrade, said lower run being supported by a guide unit comprising a pair of guide elements spaced in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of extension of said guide means third portion between said first and second portions, said lower run having a first upper section extending between said guide means first portion and a first one of said guide elements which is furthest from said portion, a lower section extending between said guide elements and a second upper section extending between the second one of said guide elements and said guide means second portion, substantial portions of said lower run first and second upper sections lying substantially the same plane, said lower run first upper section being twisted about the path of travel of the handrail through an angle sufiicient to bring second surface into engagement with both said guide elements, said lower run second upper section being twisted about the path of travel of the handrail through an angle sufiicient to bring said second surface into engagement with said guide means, and means biasing one of said guide elements against the handrail second surface to provide a handrail tensioning force acting in a direction parallel to the direction of spacing of said guide elements.

8. A conveyor as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first and second guide elements are spaced substantially from said guide means second and first portions, respectively. j

9. In a moving stairway, a lower landing and an upper landing, a light-transmissive balustrade extending between said landings and having handrail guide means including a lower portion adjacent said lower landing, an upper portion adjacent said upper landing and an inclined portion extending between said lower and upper portions, a continuous flexible handrail disposed for movement through a predetermined path of travel, said handrail having a first continuous surface for reception of the hands of stairway passengers and a second continuous surface engaging said guide means, said handrail having an upper run supported by said guide means and a lower return run disposed entirely beneath said balustrade, said lower run being supported substantially by a guide unit comprising a lower and an upper guide element spaced in a direction substantially parallel to said guide means inclined portion, said lower and upper guide elements being spaced substantially from said lower and upper guide means portions, respectively, said lower run having a first upper section extending between the lower portion of said guide means and said upper guide element, a lower section extending between said lower and upper guide elements and a second upper section extending between said lower guide element and the upper portion of said guide means, said lower and upper guide elements being disposed to position substantial portions of said lower run first and second upper sections substantially in the same plane and substantially parallel to said guide means inclined portion, said lower run first upper section being twisted about the path of travel of the handrail through an angle sufiicient to bring said second surface into engagement with both'said guide elements, said lower run second upper section being twisted about the path of travel of the handrail through an angle sufficient to bring said second surface into engagement with said guide means, and means biasing one of said guide elements against the handrail second surface to provide a handrail tensioning force acting in a direction parallel to the direction of spacing of said guide elements, thereby urging the last-named surface against the other of said guide elements.

10. In a conveyor for transporting passengers between a first landing and a second landing, a continuous flexible handrail in the form of a closed loop, said handrail having a first continuous surface to be grasped by conveyor passengers and a second continuous guide surface, said surfaces being on opposite sides of the handrail, said handrail having having an upper run and a lower return run, a light-transmissive balustrade disposed within said loop and having guide means for supporting said upper run and for guiding said handrail for continuous movement through a predetermined closed path of travel,

said guide means engaging said guide surface, said lower run being disposed entirely beneath said balustrade and having a single auxiliary loop substantially closed on it- I self, and handrail tensioning means for expanding said auxiliary loop.

11. A conveyor as claimed in claim 10, wherein said handrail tensioning means comprises first and second guide elements disposed within said auxiliary loop, said lower run being disposed for engagement of each of said guide elements by only said guide surface, and means biasing one of said guide elements against said guide surface to provide a handrail tensioning force acting in '3 a direction parallel to the direction of spacing of said, guide elements, in combination with motive means for driving the other of said guide elements to move saidhandrail through said predetermined closed path of travel.

12. In a conveyor for'transporting passengers between a first landing and a second landing, a continuous flexible handrail in the form of a closed loop, said handrail having 'a first continuous surface to be grasped by conveyor passengers and a second continuous guide surface, said surfaces being on opposite sides of the handrail, said handrail having an upper run and a lower return run, a light-transmissive balustrade disposed within said loop and having guide means for supporting said upper run and for guiding said handrailfor'continuous movement through a predetermined closed path of travel, said guide means engaging said guide surface and including'a first portion adjacent said first landing, a second portion adjacent said second landing and a third portion extending between said first and second portions, said lower run being disposed entirely beneath said balustrade, and a guide unit supporting said lower run intermediate the ends thereof and engaging said guide surface, said guide unit being positioned to divide said lower run into two substantially similar long sections extendingin substantially the same general direction between said guide means first and second portions. 1

l3. A conveyor as claimed in claim 12, wherein a first of said lower run sections is twisted about the path of travel of the handrail to presentsaid guide surface to said guide unit and the second of said lower run sections is twisted about the path of travel of the handrail to present said guide surface'to said balustrade guide means.-

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN A MOVING STAIRWAY, A LOWER LANDING AND AN UPPER LANDING, A BALUSTRADE EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID LANDINGS AND HAVING HANDRAIL GUIDE MEANS INCLUDING A LOWER PORTION ADJACENT SAID LOWER LANDING AND AN UPPER PORTION ADJACENT SAID UPPER LANDING, A CONTINUOUS FLEXIBLE HANDRAIL DISPOSED FOR MOVEMENT THROUGH A PREDETERMINED PATH OF TRAVEL, SAID HANDRAIL HAVING A FIRST CONTINUOUS SURFACE FOR RECEPTION OF THE HANDS OF STAIRWAY PASSENGERS AND A SECOND CONTINUOUS SURFACE ENGAGING SAID GUIDE MEANS, SAID HANDRAIL HAVING AN UPPER RUN SUPPORTED BY SAID GUIDE MEANS AND A LOWER RETURN RUN DISPOSED ENTIRELY BENEATH SAID BALUSTRADE, SAID LOWER RUN BEING SUPPORTED SUBSTANTIALLY BY A GUIDE UNIT DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY MIDWAY BETWEEN SAID UPPER AND LOWER PORTIONS OF SAID GUIDE MEANS, SAID GUIDE UNIT COMPRISING AN UPPER AND A LOWER GUIDE ELEMENT SPACED IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID UPPER RUN, SAID LOWER RUN HAVING A FIRST SECTION EX- 